Device for illuminating radio cabinets



y 3, 1951 A. N. QUIDOR 2,559,224

DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING RADIO CABINETS Filed May 13, 1949 JNVENTOR.

Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE DEVICE FORILLUMINATING RADIO CABINETS 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a device for illuminating radio cabinets andit has for its object to provide a novel and improved lighting means forenhancing the artistic effect and general utility of such cabinets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination radiocabinet and lighting fixture in which the parts are constructed andcoordinated to insure maximum efficiency in the selection of radioprograms.

Still another object is to provide a cabinet of the foregoing typeincluding a sloping panel having a frame to hold radio programs, a radiodial and control means therefor, all illuminated by a single lightsource adjacent the top of the panel.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully disclosed.

The radio cabinet disclosed herein for purposes of illustration is atable model comprising a rectangular base, uitable side walls, andupwardly converging front and back walls carried by the base andterminating in a convex top which is substantially narrower than saidbase. The sloping front wall or panel of the cabinet contains a framefor holding radio programs mounted on the upper part of said wall, apreferably linear radio dial disposed beneath said program frame, andradio control elements or knobs mounted beneath said dial.

The lighting fixture may include bifurcated supports or levers pivotedon the side walls of the cabinet adjacent the top thereof, and thelighting unit is secured to one arm of each of these levers. Thelighting unit preferably comprises a tubular fluorescent lamp housed ina reflecting hield or hood which is shaped to abut against the slopingfront wall of the cabinet adjacent the top thereof and is adapted toshed light downwardly upon the program frame, the radio dial and thecontrol elements. The other arms of the bifurcated levers may beconnected by an actuating bar which lies substantially flush with theconvex top of the cabinet and may be actuated to pivot the lighting unitout of contact with the sloping front wall of the cabinet forreplacement or repair.

Although the novel features which are characteristic of this inventionare set forth more in detail in the claim appended hereto, the natureand scope of the invention may be better understood by referring to thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingforming a part thereof, in which a specific embodiment has been setforth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a radio cabinet embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a broken side view corresponding with Fig. 2, but with thelighting unit in elevated position.

In the following description certain specific terms are used forconvenience in referring to the various details of the invention.

The radio cabinet shown in the drawing is a table model having arectangular base I, sloping side walls 2 and 3, and upwardly convergingfront and back walls 4 and 5 terminating in a convex top 6 which issubstantially narrower than the base I.

The sloping front wall 4 of the cabinet carries a frame or programholder 1 which is mounted centrally on the upper portion of said wall. Acard or chart 8 containing a list of radio programs may be inserted inthe frame I where it is readily accessible to the user.

A linear radio dial 9 is mounted centrally on the front wall 4 of thecabinet beneath the program-holding frame 1. Beneath the dial 9 are thesound openings l0, and suitable radio control knobs I 2 and I3 arelocated on the front wall beneath said sound openings.

The lighting fixture shown herein for purposes of illustration include apair of bifurcated supports or bell-crank levers [4 which are pivoted atIE on the side walls 2 and 3 of the cabinet adjacent the convex top 6.The lighting unit is rigidly secured to the lower arms of levers I4 Iand preferably comprises a tubular fluorescent lamp l6 housed in ashield or hood I! which may have its inner concave surface polished orother wise formed to reflect light rays from the lamp [6 as hereinaftermore fully described.

The upper arms of the bifurcated levers 14 are joined together by anelongated bar I8 which extends the width of the cabinet and may becurved transversely to lie substantially flush with the convex top 6, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bar I8 has a central grip or handle l9 bymeans of which the entire lighting unit may be moved about its pivotsl5, as will now be described.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the lighting unit in the normal position which itoccupies when the radio is in use. The inner flat wall of the shield orhood I? is shaped to abut against the sloping front Wall 4 of thecabinet above the program frame 1,

as best shown in Fig. 2. In this position the inner reflecting surfaceof the shield I! reflects light rays from the lamp l6 downwardly overthe sloping front wall 4 of the cabinet. The light rays thus impingedirectly on the Wall 4 and brilliantly illuminate the program chart 8,dial 9 and control elements 12 and I3.

When it is desired to replace or adjust the fluorescent lamp [6, theuser simply grasps the handle I9 and tilts the entire lighting unitabout the pivots IE to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus moving theshield I! out of contact with the front wall 6 of the cabinet andelevating the lamp !6 to a position where it is readily accessible foradjustment or removal. The upper arms of levers I4 may frictionallyengage the side walls 2 and 3 of the cabinet to retain the lighting unitin the elevated position shown in Fig. 4, or the arcuate bar 18 mayslidingly engage the convex top 6 of the cabinet for this purpose.

While a specific embodiment has been shown and described herein forpurposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the artthat the invention is capable of various modifications and adaptationswithin the scope of the appended claim.

The invention claimed is:

The combination with an object having a sloping front wall terminatingin a convex substantially circular top, and connected side walls, of adevice for illuminating said front wall comprising a pair of bifurcatedmembers pivoted on the outside of said side walls at the center-ofcurvature of the top, a lighting unit secured to one arm of each memberand including an elongated lamp and a reflecting shield housing saidlamp and shaped and located to substantially abut against said slopingfront wall to shed light downwardly upon the latter, and an actuatingbar connecting the other arms of said members and lying substantiallyflush with the outside of said convex top for moving said lighting unitaway from said front wall, said device having frictional engagement withthe object to hold the device in adjusted position on the object.

ARTHUR N. QUIDOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 104,325 Lasseter Apr. 27.,1937 D. 118,594 Punke Jan. 9, 1940 1,636,211 Branning July 19., .19271,879,097 Coffey Sept. 27, 1932 1,886,027 Klingsick Nov. 1, 19322,131,708 Lesperance Sept. 27, 1938 2,151,259 Young Mar. .21, 19392,275,562 Shantz Mar. 10, 1942 2,422,406 Gordon June .17, 1947 2,470,645Reichart May .17, 1949

